Greta Gerwig’s first installment in Netflix’s reboot of The Chronicles of Narnia is set to arrive in theaters for the 2026 holiday season, although it will not be the particular chapter best suited for this date. Narnia has been steadily garnering attention with the announcements of the director and cast members, building hype even with the release date still far in the future.

So far, Netflix’s Narnia is confirmed to star Barbie‘s Emma Mackey as the White Witch and Maestro‘s Carey Mulligan as Mrs. Kirke, while Daniel Craig is rumored to be Uncle Andrew and Meryl Streep a gender-swapped Aslan. Meanwhile, there is no word yet on who will play Digory Kirke or Polly Plummer, to be Gerwig’s first child heroes of Narnia.

Like some other not-exactly Christmas movies, Narnia is a children’s fantasy staple that offers a certain whimsical, heartwarming, and occasionally snowy magic that is always suitable for holiday watch parties. However, the best Narnia book, which leans into these vibes most heavily, is not the one coming out in time for Christmas next year.

Narnia’s Release Date Would Be Even Better For The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

The Narnia Installment With Lots Of Snow & A Major Christmas Moment

Greta Gerwig’s Narnia‘s release date of Thanksgiving Day 2026 would be better for a new movie adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, rather than The Magician’s Nephew, which is the first published Narnia book’s prequel. Although the snowy landscape of Narnia is the result of the villain’s power, it has always been an uplifting visual.

While spring comes partway through The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, it is natural to first think of Lucy finding the wonderful Narnia covered in snow, and therefore wintertime. The characters also briefly celebrate Christmas when Father Christmas is able to return to Narnia as a result of the White Witch’s waning power.

The brief Christmas festivities, though they may not be the main event of the story, are exactly what also makes Harry Potter popular for Christmastime. On the other hand, The Magician’s Nephew lacks this iconography, meaning it won’t reap the same benefits by evoking the holiday spirit that people will already be experiencing around the time of its release.

Why Is Gerwig’s Narnia Beginning With The Magician’s Nephew?

This Is Ultimately The Best Option For Starting A New Series

However, Gerwig beginning with The Magician’s Nephew is a strategic choice for the new movie series. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is often considered the best Narnia installment (certainly the case with the movies of the 2000s), and the Pevensie siblings are the series’ most famous characters.

If Gerwig started again with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, not only would her project be compared to the very well-received 2005 movie, but the series from there would be an uphill battle of trying to match the first movie and failing. The Magician’s Nephew allows her a clean slate to tell a new story on her own terms before revisiting the Pevensies.

The Magician’s Nephew is still a highly anticipated major fantasy release that could do well in cinemas during the holiday season. And, presumably, Gerwig will tackle the first The Chronicles of Narnia novel next, which could also get a holiday release in future years, and perhaps see an even bigger turnout.